Grant Harding: Erakovic: A True Pro

By grant.harding@hbtoday.co.nz
 If bald statistics were the guide New Zealand's best tennis player Marina Erakovic's current world rankings of 144 in singles and 112 in doubles would not excite many.
However a true sports fan, a fan who looks behind the statistics and seeks to understand the battle, would have been sitting up and taking notice of her remarkable year long before the magical run in the Wimbledon doubles this week
Earlier today the 23-year-old and her partner, Thai, Tamarine Tanasugarn (108th on both lists) had their semi-final against Australian Samantha Stosur (World No. 10, singles) and German Sabine Lisicki (semi-finalist, Wimbledon 2011 singles) halted by bad light at one set apiece, 5-5 in the third set.
Should they go on to reach the Grand Slam's final the column inches will naturally grow, the broadcasters will wax lyrical - as they should. The Halberg nominators might even pick up their pen.
But hats should have been off to this young woman much earlier.
Back in 2008 Erakovic's deeds on the tennis circuit made morning sports radio broadcasts important again, and brought match trackers on the internet into use.
It was a time of joy - a Grand Slam tennis player who could win matches, and who advanced all the way to World No. 49. The crash that followed in 2009 was disappointing, a serious injury leading to a downward form spiral so that by the end of 2010 she was in nowhere land, No. 324. It's a long way to come back - again.
When it comes down to it, tennis is a lonely sport. Once on court there's just you to rely on. If you're having a bad day, you either work through it or you might be having a bad week. If your body fails you, there's no substitute to run your business for you.
At Auckland in January there didn't look to be much hope as she crashed out in the first round.
But my ears picked up on a comment shortly afterwards - she would concentrate on singles this year, doubles the discipline in which she has won her four WTA titles was on the backburner.
Back through the desperation of the ITF circuit she has battled, winning three singles tournaments.
Then she qualified for Roland Garros, her first Grand Slam since Australia in early 2010. No matter that she exited in the first round after three tough sets. She was now beating players ranked well above her, and continued to do so in making a quarter-final at Birmingham where she pushed World No. 20 Shuai Peng to three sets.
Again she ran the gauntlet of qualifying at Wimbledon and entered the main draw, winning a round before going down to in-form Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova.
And now the doubles has added icing to the cake, with her ranking already sure to rise into the 50s, alongside a probable 20-place jump in the singles.
So while we should rejoice if Erakovic makes the Wimbledon final, it is important to recognise the back story, the character which has got her there. Almost 50 matches already this year. True Kiwi grit and determination in a sport which is embraced throughout the world.
In the top 20 singles rankings alone, Denmark, Belgium, Russia, China, Italy, Czechoslavakia, France, Australia, Poland, Germany, Serbia, Estonia and Belarus are countries featured.
It's tough out there. And in good times and bad we sports fans need to recognise that.
What Marina Erakovic has achieved thus far this year is remarkable. Whether she wins or loses tonight, we should salute our No. 1 tennis player. She is a true professional.